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Fran Answers Questions: September 2008

News, Sports, and Art — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:12:00 +0000

Chancellor Fran Ulmer presents the September 2008 edition of Fran Answers Questions.

Dr. Ron Eglash: "Self Organization in Science and Society"

News, Sports, and Art — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:09:00 +0000

The UAA Complex Systems Group presents Dr. Ron Eglash. Self-organization has become an increasingly important phenomenon in both the natural sciences and engineering. Self-assembly of carbon “bucky balls” are critical to nanotechnology; self-organizing swarms of insects are modeled in biology and robotics, and so on. But recursive loops in which things govern themselves are also foundational to society. Democracy is the people governing the people. Social networks in both physical life and Internet domains arise by self-assembly, and some decentralized indigenous societies build self-similar architecture. Can self-organization lead us to a more just and sustainable future?

Dr. Eglash, Associate Professor of Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic University, holds a B.S. in Cybernetics, an M.S. in Systems Engineering and a Ph.D. in History of Consciousness, all from the University of California. A Fulbright postdoctoral fellowship enabled his field research on African ethnomathematics, which was published by Rutgers University Press in 1999 as “African Fractals: Modern Computing and Indigenous Design.”

Recorded: Friday, September 19, 2008

File Download (46:15 min / 42 MB)

Dr. Ron Eglash: "Complexity in Indigenous Knowledge"

News, Sports, and Art — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:07:00 +0000

The UAA Complex Systems Group presents Dr. Ron Eglash: “Complexity in Indigenous Knowledge.” Indigenous knowledge is often associated with simple tasks, counting to 100 or making a box, but such stereotypes ignore the rich conceptual and material structures that have resulted from the co-evolution of native cultures and their environment. African fractals, Native American cybernetics, and indigenous nanotechnology are just some of the complex hybrids that emerge when we open up the space for more sophisticated models.

Recorded: Thursday, September 18, 2008

File Download (42:19 min / 39 MB)

LitSite Alaska featured on CHON-FM in Whitehorse, Yukon

admin — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:14:00 +0000

LitSite is bringing Native language and stories to life using IBM cutting-edge speech technology. Over 1,000 pages of text have been enhanced with audio files, using IBM WebSphere Voice Server text-to-speech software. These audio files even include uncommon pronunciations of Alaska Native names and words such as KwaashKiKwaan, Tlingit and Inupiaq.

Read more ::
LitSite Alaska ::

File Download (2:13 min / 1 MB)

2008 Faculty and Staff Convocation

admin — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:45:00 +0000

Chancellor Fran Ulmer speaks on progress at UAA in the 2007-2008 year and ways UAA is looking toward the future in 2008-2009. Click link below to download a 2-page PDF with facts and figures on the accomplishments and future planning at UAA.

File Download (19:54 min / 9 MB)

Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference panel: “What Is This Thing Called Voice?”

admin — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:16:00 +0000

UAA Provost Michael Driscoll introduces the panel titled, “What is This Thing Called Voice?” moderated by John Straley. The panel includes: Elizabeth Bradfield, Gayle Brandeis, David Crouse and Nora Marks Dauenhauer. Panelists discuss “voice” in writing and strategies for finding one’s own. (Recorded on June 7, 2008)

File Download (69:00 min / 32 MB)

Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference reading at Captain Coffee in Homer, Alaska

admin — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:16:00 +0000

Public reading at Captain Coffee including Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference faculty David Crouse, Michael Steinberg, Eva Saulitis, Rich Chiappone and Elizabeth Bradfield. (Recorded on June 8, 2008)

File Download (89:32 min / 41 MB)

Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference: “Publishing Books in the Digital Age: Why Books?”

admin — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:15:00 +0000

Are there still reasons to publish ink and paper books? Rich Chiappone moderates this panel where writers, editors, agents and publishers discuss the possibilities of publishing in the digital age. Panelists include Elizabeth Bradfield, David Gessner, Jeff Kleinman, Judith Schnell and Michael Steinberg. (Recorded on June 8, 2008)

File Download (53:51 min / 25 MB)

Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference: “Rough Music: Incorporating Other Voices into Poems”

admin — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:14:00 +0000

Elizabeth Bradfield leads this session on how poets have enriched their own writing with the voices of others. (Recorded on June 7, 2008)

File Download (68:02 min / 62 MB)

Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference session with John Straley, “Just Smart Enough: Bumbling My Way to the Top”

admin — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:14:00 +0000

Alaska State Writer, John Straley, discusses his development as a writer and the personal obstacles he overcame to become a published author. (Recorded on June 7, 2008)

File Download (50:40 min / 23 MB)